New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-07
TIE SEy1TOR FROM NEW.JEPSEY

The Legislature which meets in Trenton
next week consists of 81 members on joint
ballot, III being majority competent to elect
United States Senator. OF these 80 Repub-
licans, 80 Democrats and 2 Assemblymcn
elected on the Labor ticket hold undpuicd
seats OF the two districts in contest the vote
of one in Mercer County has hecn pronounced
tic by the Chicf-Justicc, although the Dem
ocrat holds certificate on which he may at
tempt to take his scat Without stating facts
which plainly show that the Republican, who
was also the Labor candidate, was honestly
elected, it viii suffice for present purposes to
say that tho utmost clam in law of the other
side is that the Democrat poIlcd as many votes
as his opponent. He has not the shadow Of
a right in law or morals to a scat in the AS
sembly, and he kr ows it, Governor Albeit,
who hopes to scOro point in the organization
by the admission Of this man. refuses TO order
a new election, thus making use Of the state
machinery under his Official control to elevate
himself to a chair in the United States Senate.
The testimony in regard TO the other con-
test. the ono in Camden, reveals holder at
tempt to steal a scat by Governor Abbett's
friends than has ever Lccn contemplated be-
IOfc III inc HlStolN VI ulc plttc. UdlHCS, INC
Republican, was elected according TO certified
returns by 10 majority. After a time n recount
was demanded, and in every ballot box ex-
ccpt two the original tally was verified. but
in these changes were made to reverse the
vote and give Turl'y, the Democrat, IS ma
jority. Without noticing some singular facts
in reference TO the custody Of these boxes, it
may tc stated that all tho changed ballots
in one of them were written by the same hand.
The INSPECTORS Of Election, eight in all and five
of them Democrats, swear that the original
count was correct. More than this, llalnes
was credited in these precincts at FIST with
335 votes and $50 citizens have made affidavit
TINT they each voted for the Republican, while
the revised " count gives him less than 800.
The evidence is without flaw. and the fraud is
demonstrated beyond any question.
In spite Of this Governor Albeit is boasting
that his election to the Senate is assured. II
this is true, he must command every one Of the
80 Democratic and the , Labor votes The
insinuaiion that he has bargaincd successfully
for these last named is not credited. Both
arc men Of fair cpu;c, and there is nothing in
the history of either TO justify the suspicion
that they viii bc Influenced by such arguments
as the Governor seems prepared to usc and no
doubt he fears this. For if he was sure OF
controlling them there would have been no
need Of the elaborate crookcdness in Mercer
and Camden. He ought to know too. that
they would hardly lie inclined to aid the
schemes Of man who was keeping their party
associate in Mercer from his rightful seat in
the Assembly. As for the two men Who hold
tainted certificates, it is safe 10 say that their
votes Will never elect n Senator. IL IL not
certain that they will Try 10 vote And doubt
less there arc honest Democrats in the Assem-
bly, who will never consent TO allow them To
vote even on the organization OF the House to
which neither Of them belongs
The situation is interesting and critical but
Governor Albeit WI probably learn before the
strife is over that there are enough honest men
in the Legislature to save the State from such
q calamity as his election to the Senate.